A/N: Thank you so much to all who reviewed and all who read my new story, I am so happy you are enjoying it. This chapter is a bit shorter for a couple reasons, I wanted it out quickly and I liked where it ended and didn't want to go any further. Just so you know though, chapter 3 is already coming on strong, and will be appearing very soon.

Looking at my profile, I see that this is story number 25, yikes! Scary thought.

Please review and now, on with the show!

Chapter Two

I hope you have taken advantage of the break in the story and now have some refreshments. I will continue now where I left off. Where was that again? Oh yes, Elrond warning me about Erestor's darkness. Now, one would think that Elrond would know better than to warn me against anything. If you warn me about something I just get more interested in it. To this day if someone yells, "There is danger over there!" I run that way when all else run the other way. Look at my acts in the history books to find the truth in those words.

Perhaps that was Elrond's true motivation behind his words, to get me more curious, I will have to ask him later.

Later that night I waited for my students to appear from the library. Finally, tiny forms rushed past me with nothing on their minds except the fact that another school day was completed and that tomorrow was a day of rest with no lessons for them.

I stood in the doorway as Erestor erased a timeline of Lindon from the board.

"You kept them later than usual tonight."

Without turning, Erestor responded, "I keep them as late as needed to complete the lesson. Tonight they were distracted and so they had to stay later. If they behave and pay attention, they are released earlier."

Simple logic, what else would one expect from the advisor.

"What are your plans for the rest of the evening?" I asked.

He shrugged, "There is some work to be done yet tonight."

"I see." Not letting him make me go away that easy, I persisted, "Tomorrow night how about we get together and play a game of chess? Tactician verses tactician, should be interesting."

"There is much to be done."

Elrond says that when I was reborn the Valar forgot to give me subtlety and perhaps he is right. "Come now, Erestor, are you worried you might lose to a little old warrior such as I?" I teased. He raised his eyes to me finally.

"As you wish." He responded quietly.

"Excellent! I shall see you tomorrow night then." And I left the room in a whirl, no doubt making Erestor reconsider his plans.

That day I decided to break with normal Imladris protocol and visit Erestor during working hours. As I approached his study I tried to think of some excuse to visit him. Then I decided that something about changing the guard rotations would do the trick.

When I reached the thick wood door I knocked loudly, no doubt startling Erestor from whatever he was working on. No response came, so I knocked again, even more loudly this time.

Nothing happened again. The door did not open nor did an annoyed voice cry out from within demanding to be left alone. I tried the handle. Locked.

Odd.

So I persuaded the door to open with a small blade I carried with me, of course, the door was almost open already. I merely helped it along.

When I entered the study I found the strangest thing. It was empty. No Erestor. I looked at the quills on the desk and they were dry meaning he hadn't just stepped out for a moment; he had not been there at all. Slowly I retreated, shut the door and sprang the lock back into position.

Very odd indeed.

Now, I don't think I need to tell you who won the chess game that night. I may talk a good game, but when pieces are actually in motion, Erestor had me beat the moment I touched a pawn. Even through my attempts at distractions, he remained victorious.

"So, Erestor, Celeborn and Thranduil, who would win in a fight?"

"Fist fight?"

"Yes."

"Celeborn." Erestor said simply, as if it was obvious.

Humph, know it all.

The next day I awake and I found myself needing a jog. I realized I had not done a good workout in a while and my legs itched for some miles. I took with me only my small blade and started off down one of the paths towards the borders of Imladris enjoying the feel of the sunlight on my skin. Jogging always helps me think and my mind couldn't stop from focusing on Erestor with his interesting temperament.

When I had some good distance from home I began to hear noises. I realized that something was nearby, keeping an eye on me from the woods, but I had no idea what possibly could be hunting me. Taking out my meager weapon, I slowed, hoping to find only a deer or a rabbit in the bushes ahead. What appeared startled me almost to the point where I dropped the knife; it came out into the open so close I knew I had no room to run.

It was a large dog, almost the size of a wolf, from a hunting group of men I mused. Often men would hunt just over the borders in this area and bring horses, dogs and raptors to aid them. Separated from the men and other dogs, this one could have been out here alone for quite some time. It looked mad, perhaps with a sickness, and hungry.

And I, with no real effective means of protecting myself, looked like dinner.

TBC